Electrical fixture support and connector



March 9 1954 E. L. ZIENTOWSKI ET A1. 2,671,821

ELECTRICAL FIXTURE SUPPORT AND CONNECTOR 'I Filed March 27, 1951 Patented Mar. 9, 1954 ELECTRICAL FIXTURE SUPPORT AND CONNECTOR Edward L. Zientowski and Lucille H. Williams, Toledo, Ohio Application March 27, 1951, Serial No. 217,720

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a combined electrical fixture support and connector and more especially to an arrangement for connecting and supporting lighting fixtures or other electrical devices particularly of the character adapted to be secured to a wall or ceiling. It has been conventional practice to support lighting fixtures from ceilings and walls by means of rods and connections of a character requiring the use of tools for disconnecting or dismantling the lixtures for purposes of cleaning or for the purpose of interchanging fixtures. Moreover, the electrical connections of the xtures are usually intertwisted and in some instances soldered or otherwise secured to the Wires or conductors of the current supply. lThus heretofore, in order to remove a lighting fixture for cleaning or interchangeability, it was necessary to either untwist the wires providing the electrical connection or cut them in order to clean or effect an interchange of fixtures. It has been a laborious task to disconnect and clean lighting fixtures supported or mounted in the manner above mentioned.

The present invention embraces a combined electrical fixture support and electrical circuit connector arranged whereby the xture is removably secured to a support and the electrical or current connection made through the use of a readily disconnectable plug and socket device.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a combined xture support and circuit connector of a character which may be interchanged with conventional fixture supporting means without necessitating any modification or change in the supporting ceiling or Wall or the current conducting means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lighting iiXture support and connector wherein the lighting fixture is mechanically connected to the support through readily disconnectable means which may be manipulated Without the use of tools and the electrical circuit connection established to the illuminating means or other current consuming devices by a manually removable and connectable plug and socket arrangement.

Another object of the invention resides in a combined fixture outlet or connection box equipped with a socket connection which facilitates the establishment of an electrical circuit with a current supply line or cable with a minimum of effort through the use of a manually insertable plug element.

Another object of the invention resides in an arrangement for connecting a depending lightwherein the fixture may be quickly and easily removed for purposes of cleaning or for interchangeability with other fixtures without the use of tools.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a combined fixture support and connector which is adapted to accommodate various types and kinds of xtures Without necessitating changes in the mounting wall or ceiling or the electrical current supply line.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating a portion of a conventional ceiling construction with the combined fixture support and connector installed therewith and illustrating a fixture connected thereto;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View through the fixture support and connector of our invention illustrating a part of the lighting xture arrangement connected thereto, and

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the combined fixture support and connector with the cover installed. v

While we have illustrated the arrangement of our invention as utilized with a lighting fixture of the depending type, it is to be understood that We contemplate the use of the arrangement of our invention with any type of fixture mounted on any type of supporting surface.

Referring to the drawings in detail and rst to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a preferred arrangement of the invention in conjunction with a ceiling construction in which the joists are indicated at I0 to which is secured the lath or plaster board l2 provided with a coating of plaster l 4 or other covering or finishing material. Secured between adjacent joists is a strap or bar l5 connected to the joists by means of screws I? or other suitable means.

Disposed adjacent and beneath the central portion of the bar i6 is a housing or fixture outlet box I8 which may be of substantially rectangular coniiguration or other shape if desired. The box I8 in its normal position of installation in said box, a hook member adjustably mounted upon the other end of said rod, a second hook member supporting said fixture for interengagement With said rst mentioned hook member and having a iange thereon and a central opening therein, an escutcheon engaging said flange, removable means mounted on said second hook member securing said escutcheon to said second hook member', a conductor extending into the escutcheon and passing through said central passage of said second hook member, and a manually removable and placeable plug on the inner end oi' said conductor cooperating with said socket for establishing an electrical circuit to said xture.

2. In combination With a lighting fixture of a type adapted to depend from a supporting surface, an outlet box adapted to accommodate electrical current supply conductors, a socket disposed Within said box, a bracket securing said socket to a wail of said box, said socket having terminals adapted to be connected to the supply' conductors, a rod threaded at either end having a ilange located between said threaded ends, said box having an opening formed in a Wall thereof, one end of said rod passing through said opening so as to engage said flange at said opening with an inner Wall of said box, a locknut threaded on said one end securing said rod to said box, a threaded hook member adjustably mounted upon the other threaded end of the rod, a second threaded hook member supporting said xture for interengagement With said rst mentioned hook member and having a iiange thereon and a central passage therein, an escutcheon engaging said flange, removable means mounted on said second threaded hook member securing said escutcheon to said second threaded hook member, a conductor extending into the escutcheon and passing through said central passage of said second threaded hook member, and a manually removable and placeable plug on the inner end of said conductor cooperating with said socket for establishing an electrical circuit to said xture.

3. In combination with a lighting fixture of a type adapted to depend from a supporting surface, an outlet box adapted to accommodate electrical current supply conductors, a socket dis posed Within said box, a bracket securing said socket to a Wall of said box, said socket having terminals adapted to be connected to the supply conductors, a strap secured to said supporting surface having a hole therein, a rod threaded at either end having a fiange located between said threaded ends, said box having an opening formed in a wall thereof, one end of said rod passing through said opening and said hole so as to engage said flange at said opening with an inner wall or said box, a locknut threaded on said one end securing said rod to said box and said strap, a threaded hook member adjustably mounted upon the other threaded end of the rod, a second threaded hook member supporting said fixture for interengagement with said rst menticned hook member and having a flange thereon and a central passage therein, an escutcheon engaging said flange, removable means mounted on said second threaded hook member securing said escutcheon to said second threaded hook member, a conductor extending into the escutcheon and passing through said central passage of said second threaded hook member, and a manuallyT removabie and placeable plug on the inner end of said conductor cooperating with said socket for establishing an electrical circuit to said iixture.

EDWARD L. ZIENTOVVSKI. LUCILLE H. WILLIAMS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 714,600 Muller Nov. 25, 1902 1,483,252 Symmes Feb. 12, 1924 1,662,275 Lane Mar. 13, 1928 1,666,223 Symmes Apr. 17, 1928 1,701,935 Ryan Feb. 12, 1929 1,796,036 Mangin Mar. 10, 1931 1,966,451 Le Manquais July 17, 1934 2,260,829 Carlson Oct. 28, 1941 

